Cooking machine



June 11, 1935. E. A. BRUNELLE COOKING MACHINE Filed May 6 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 11, 1935. E. A. BRUNELLE CQOKING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1932 V 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 E e y WEW%% June 11, 1935. E. A. BRUNELLE. 2,904,500

COOKING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1932 s Sheets-Sheet 3 June 11, 1935. E. AIBRUNELLE COOKING'MACHI NE 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 6 Raven/$03 OOOOOA 00000 00000 l 1 l I l l l 6 vi rum June 1i, 19535; I 5. A. BIIRUNELLE 9 9 COOKING MACHINE Filed May 6', 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .Z'mwemiam: @nqs Puma ZZw,

Patented June 11, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention, which relates to machines for frying nuts and the like, and has among its objects the provision of a machine of compact construction which will automatically place successive batches of nuts in hot cooking fat and discharge them therefrom when fried, will be best understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings of one form of machine constructed according to the invention,

' the scope of which latter will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 8, and illustrates a detail of the basket moving and tilting mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line H of Fig. 9, and corresponds to Fig. 2 with the parts in a different operative position;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the machine constructed according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6- 8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the machine constructed'according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 illustrates a'fragment'of the device as viewed in Fig. 7 with the fat container removed;

Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 8 with the parts in a different operative position;

Fig. 10 is a plan of the'machine constructed according to Fig. 1; and v Fig. 11 is a section on the line ll-ll of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the machine herein illustrated comprises a base I for supporting the operative parts of -the machine. Carried by the base are a'pair of spaced'vertical standards 3 having laterally projecting arms 5 which removably support the container I for the fat in which the nuts are cooked. At their upperends, these standards have forwardly projecting arms 9' which carry a combined chute and measuring device II for delivering batches'of nuts from the hopper I3, carried by said device, to,a basket (5 supported for movement into and out of the fat container 1.

As shown, the fat container 1' is provided at opposite ends with projecting lugs ll which 'slidably rest upon the upstanding lugs l9 on the arms 5 so that the container can be readily removed for cleaning and inspection. Prefer ably, the container is formed of metal, such as aluminum, constituting a good heat conductor, and has its bottom wall 2| recessed as indicated at 23 (Fig. 7) for receiving the electric coil units 25 for heating the fat.

Herein, the measuring device hasa body P rtion in the form of a chute ll (Fig. 3) provided heating at its upper end with a funnel 21. In'the present construction, this funnel carries the hopper l3 for the uncooked nuts, saidhopper preferably being formed as a glass bowl having a bottom opening 29 for discharging the nuts into the funnel 21. At the upper end of the chute H is a valvular device which herein takes the form of a plate 3| extending through an opening 33 in the back wall of the chute. As shown, the plate 3| is slidably supported at opposite ends onguide bars 35 each of which has a groove 31 for receiving theedge of the plate. Herein, these bars extend through the opening 33, at the ends of the plate, across the chute at opposite sides thereof. At the bottom of the chute H is a plate 39 mounted similarly to the plate 3| on guide bars M carried by the chute.

As will be obvious, by operating the slide plates 3| and 39 in such way that one opens the chute II when the other closes it, measured quantities of nuts may be discharged from the hopper l3 into the basket I5.

For operating the slide plates 3| and 39, in the present embodiment of my invention a rotary cam disk 43 is provided, this .cam being mounted on a shaft 45 rotatably supported at opposite lever, which latter has a spindle 6| rotatably carried at opposite end portions thereof by the two standards 3; The other arm 63 of this bell crank lever has a roller'65 resting upon the periphery of the cam disk 43 and urged into contact therewith by a tension spring 61. The other slide plate 39, as shown, is connected by a link 69 to the upper arm H of a bell crank lever having a spindle I3 rotatably supported at opposite end portions thereof'on the ends of the arms 41,- this spindle carrying an arm 15 to which is connected a tension spring ll for urging the roller 19 carried by' the other arm (ll of the bell crank lever into contact with the periphery of the cam disk 43. I

As shown, the shaft 45 is rotated slowly in the direction of the arrow 0. (Fig. 3) to bring the recess 83 of the cam disk successively under the rollers 19 and 55. Herein, this recess has the steeply pitched side 85 so as to move the slide plate 39 quickly to permit quick discharge of the nuts in the measuring device II into the basket I when the latter is in raised position, as will hereinafter be explained. As shown, the rollers 65 and 19 are positioned approximately at diametrically opposite sides of the cam disk so that the slide plate 3| will permit discharge of nuts into the chute II when the lower plate 39 closes the chute, while the plate 39 will be moved to open the chute when the uppper slide plate 3I closes it.

As shown, the shaft 45 for driving the cam disk 43 is driven by an electric motor 81 (Fig. 5) mounted on the base I of the machine. Herein, the shaft 89 of this motor is directly connected toa rotary exhauster- 9|, the end of the shaft opposite the motor having the belt pulley 93 about which passes a belt 95 for driving a pulley 91. The pulley 91, as shown, drives a worm 99 (Figs. 5 and 6) cooperating with a worm wheel IOI, which latter drives a second worm wheel I03 cooperating with a second worm wheel I05, the latter being carried by the shaft 45 so that said shaft is slowly rotated when the motor 81 is in operation.

The basket which holds the articles being cooked herein comprises imperforateend walls I01, connected by lateral walls I09 of foraminous material. ,Each end plate of the basket, asillustrated, has secured thereto a plate III (Figs. '7, Band 9) which carries a pivot pin H3.

To each of these pivot. pins is connected one end of a link- I I5, the opposite ends of said links being pivotally connected to arms H1. The respective arms 1 are carried at the opposite endportions of a rock shaft II9 (Figs. 3 and 5), the latter being pivotally supported at opposite ends on the rearwardly projecting arms I2I of the vertical standards 3. At its central portion the shaft II9 carries an arm I23 (Figs. 3 and 5) having a toe I25 which cooperates with a laterally projecting roller pin I21 carried by the cam disk. As the cam disk rotates, the pin I21 strikes the toe I25 and swings the arm I23 in 'a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, so as to rock the shaft II9. This raises the arm I I1 to lift the basket I5 to remove the nuts from the receptacle 1. I

As herein illustrated, the standards 3 carry forwardlyprojecting arms I29 between which the basket I5 is positioned. These arms are provided with vertically. extending slots I3I terminating in upwardly and forwardly inclined portions I33 into which project the pivot pins -II3 carried on the ends of the basket. Above the pivot pins II3, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 8,

- each end of the basket is provided with a'pin'fi I35, so that when the basket is being raised from the full line to the dotted line position ofthe same shown by Fig. 2 the pin I35 enters the portion I 33 of the slot and causes the links to swing around their pivotal connections to the arms II1 while being raised, which in effect moves the basket laterally while being raised so that its forward edge I31 assumes. a position in front of the front wall of the fat receptacle 1, as shown by the basket in its dotted line position in Fig. 2. Continued upward motion of the arms II1 causes the pins II3 to enter the shallow arcuate grooves I39 formed on the inner sides of the arms I29 and communicating with the slots I3l. This prevents the links from swinging rearwardly around their pivotal conwhen the pin H3 is in an intermediate portion of the length of the groove I39, the basket, due.

to the weight of the nuts as the same tend to slide toward the edge I31, tilts about the fulcrum afforded by the pins H3 and causes the pins I4I carried by the ends of the basket to strike the pins I43 carried at the inner sides of the arms I29, the final tilting movement of the basket occurring about the fulcrum afforded by the contacting sides of the pins MI and I43.

In the position shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings, the contents of the basket are dumped; The basket is then returned to the fat container by lowering of the arms I", and, when the basket is in approximately the dotted line position shown by Fig. 2, the lower side plate 39 moves to the left as viewed in Fig. 3 to permit the contents in the chute II to fall into the basket.

from which compartment the tray may be slid through the hinged door I49 on'the side of the compartment.

As herein illustrated, behind the fat container 1 and resting against the rear side of the same is a flattened duct I5I having an outlet I53 con-' nected with the intake I55 of the exhauster 9I. The rear wall I51 of this duct is continued upwardly to adjacent the lower end of 'the chute I I. At each side of this upwardly extending portion of said wall are forwardly extending walls I59 embracing the opposite sides of the basket. This construction provides a hood-like structure -for the fat container so that the fumes arising therefrom are caught and drawn down the duct I5I and discharged through the outlet pipe ISI of the exhauster to any convenient place of disposal. Y

It will be understood that wide deviations may be made from the embodiment of. the invention herein disclosed "vithout departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A machine of the character described hava ing, in combination, a container for cooking liquor, a movable basket for holding the articles while beingcooked in said liquor, a hopper for the articles to .be cooked, article feeding means for delivering measured quantities of the articles from said hopper to said basket comprising ar-'- ticle discharge means from said hopper and article delivery means to said basket, a rotary exhauster for removing the fumes from said liquor, a motor, a common shaft for said motor and exhauster, a second shaft, a reduction gear connection between said shafts, and cam means on said second shaft for moving said basket and for operating said article discharge and article delivery means.

2. A machine of the character described having, in combination, a container for cooking liquor, a movable basket for holding the articles while cooked in said liquor, a ho nection between said per for the articles to be cooked, article for delivering measured quantitim oi the articles from said hopper to said com article discharge in from said hopper and article delivery means to said et, a rotary exhauster for removing the .iumes from said liquor, a motor, a common t for said motor and ex hauster, a second t, a reduction conand a coon cam on said second shalt for me said et and for operating said article Mi and article delivery means.

3. A machine oi the cter descri having, in combination, a base, a pair his 1 movable basket for holding the articles while in said liquor, conduit means for dellve erticles from said hopper to said bet, a pair of valvular devicm for contro the a go of articles through said conduit means, a shaft carried at opposite end portions thereof by said standards, amotor on said base icrdriving said shaft, and Home: operated by am" for operating said and said val de: vices. 4 p

s. A n e of the character descri having, in combination, a w. a pair oi vertical standards carried by said base, a 002-, tainer for 1:: liquor carried by said standards, a hopper for articles to be cooked carried by said standards above said container. a movable basket for holding the articles while in said liquor, conduit m for deliverlns articles from said hopper to said devices for controlling the through said conduit means, a rotary aster for removing the fumes from said liquor, a motor on said base, a coon shaft for said motor and exhauster, a second t carried at opposite end portions thereof by said s :1 '4 gear reduction drive operatively connecting said shafts, and 11 lin operated by said second shaft for opera 1r said basket and said val i=1:

I devices.

container, means fore. the liquor and moving it laterally to we said edge portion thereof above and at the outer side of said edge of said well of said container while the remainder of mid t is "above the liquor and for tilting said at while in-such position toe the contents thereof over said edge and then return the to the liquor; said means including a vertically movable member, a link for suspending said basket pivotally connected at one portion thereof to said member and at another portion thereof to said basket for raising and lowering the latter and moving it transversely relative to said container, mechanism for l 1 said link about its pivotal connection to said member for movingsaidbasketlaterallytosoposition'saidedge portion thereof, and stop means on said basket and cooperating abutment means operative upon upward movement of said link for tilting .iaontal lever ounted the liquor an moving t terally M is: liquor conerwith an upper longitudinal edge 4 portion, ,a trough-shaped, for-ominous basket ha a lotul edge portion and adapted to hold granular ma, said basket being movable vertically and lally relative to said container, in the or ion thereof ve and at the outer or. of I. liquor for tilting d l 1 tion to discharge the contents thereof over said e and then return the m. 1,1- to the liqnor; said incl an operatively horfor illatory movement in a vertical p a anti. for susn t.- Tn}- oonneot of to said lever an at other to smdbasket whereby. and bet are m- 1-. and lowered, to m operative upon upward'inovement of said We to smd lever ior mo d basket laterally to so position said e rtion thereof, and stop means on said st and cooperating abutmerit operative upon ier vupward movement oi said for tilting said basket, when t0 S u for re said basket from oong' liquor container ha a wall with an upper longitudinal edge portion, a trough-shaped, foraminous basket ha a longitudinal edge portion and adapted to hold granular material, said basket being movable vertic and laterally relative, to said comer, w for r a position said e portion thereof above and at the outer side of said e of d wall of said container while the remainder oi said basket is above the liquor and ior tilting said basket while in such ition to m in: the contents thereof over at e and then ret the basket to the liquor; means inclu 11 an operatively horisontal lever pivoted for oscillation in a vertical plane, a re c for so oscillat said lever, a for said basket disd in a vertical plane and pivotally connected at one portion thereof to .idlever and at another and mo it later to position sedd about its pivotal connection portion thereof to-said bet for suspendingthe latter and raising lowe it, stationary com me, follower means for said stationary cam means operatively associated with said link film 1, 1 i the latter about its pivotal connecon said link for moving said basket laterally to so position said edge portion thereof, and cooperating stop and abutment means operatively associated with said basket for tilting the latter, when so positioned, about its pivotal connection to id lever upon upward movement ofto said link upon continued upward movement oi the latter for discharging the contents of said et.

8;. A machine of the character described havlog, in combination, a cooking liquor container having a wall with an upper longitudinal edge portion, a trough-shaped, ioraminous basket having a longitudinal edge portion and adapted 7 to hold granular material while being cooked in said liquor, said basket being movable vertically and laterally relative to said container, means for raising and lowering said basket and moving it laterally relative to said container comprising a mechanism having a swinging link for suspending said basket, which link is pivotally connected to said basket, means operative to raise and swing said link for positionin'gsaid edge portion of said basket above and at the outer side of said edge of said wall of said container while the remainder of said basket is above the liquor, mechanism comprising a stop means on said basket and a cooperating abutment means for tilting said basket when in such position for dumping its contents when said basket is further raised by said link, and guide means for holding said stop means and abutment means in cooperating relation while said basket is being tilted. 

